Adhesive applicator for a can labeling machine



y 1962 J. J. MATTINGLY ETAL 3,045,643

ADHESIVE APPLICATOR FOR A CAN LABELING MACHINE Filed Jan. 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l fl m-HPF July 24, 1962 J. J. MATTINGLY ETAL 3,045,643

ADHESIVE APPLICA'POR FOR A CAN LABELING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1959 INVENTORS JOHN J. MATTINGLY ATTO R N E! RALPH .1 mn'rmem, DECEASED av RICHARD n. MATTINGLY, EXECUTOR BY j l 3,645,643 ADHESIVE APPLICATGR FOR A CAN LABELWC MACHWE .llohn ll. Mattingly, Rising Sun, Ind, and Ralph .1. Mattingly, deceased, late of Rising Sun, Ind, by Richard 11. Mattingly, executor, Aurora, Ind.

Filed .Iune 22, 1959, Ser. No. 821,871 4 Claims. (Cl. 118-415) The present invention appertains in general to labeling machines and more particularly to an apparatus for applying an adhesive to labels in a labeling machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved adhesive applicator for a labeling machine.

Another object is to provide an adhesive applicator that reduces the tendency for labels to stick to one another.

Another object is to provide an adhesive applicator that supplies a uniform quantity of adhesive material to successive labels in a stack.

Another object is to provide an adhesive applicator that prevents a label from adhering thereto when elevated from contact with a stack of labels.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation with parts in section of a can labeling machine embodying the adhesive applicator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the labeling machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adhesive applicator of the present invention, shown separated from the labeling machine.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the adhesive applicator.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan of the adhesive applicator.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is the can labeling machine A of the present invention that comprises transversely spaced tracks 10 and 11 (FIG. 2), which are provided with guide rails 12 and 13. Cylindrical cans C enter the can labeling machine A in succession with their axes disposed transversely to their direction of travel and advance along the tracks 10 and 11. The tracks 10 and 11 are spaced apart so that the end edges or beads of the cans C are in contact therewith. The cans C are evenly spaced during their forward movement in the labeling machine A by a can spacing device D. The construction and operation of the can spacing device D are de scribed in detail in Patent No. 2,863,403, issued on January 13, 1959, to R. I. Mattingly et al. for Can Labeler.

After the cans C pass the spacing device D, they are contacted by a belt assembly E, which moves the cans forwardly along the tracks 11 and 11. As the cans C are advanced along the tracks 16' and 11 by the belt assembly E, they pass over a glue applicator mechanism F which comprises a glue pot 14 in which is positioned a glue applicator in the form of glue wheels 15 (FIG. 2). The glue wheels 15 are positioned in spaced apart relation and apply a plurality of spaced apart spots of glue S to the outer cylindrical surfaces of the cans C passing thereover.

Subsequent to the application of the glue spots on the outer cylindrical surfaces of the successively advancing cans, the cans C pass over a label feeding mechanism G which, in general, includes a platform 19 that supports a vertical stack of horizontal labels L (FIG. 1) between the tracks 10 and 11, with the uppermost label in the stack in a position to be contacted by a can passing over it. The glue spots on a can C contact the uppermost label of the stack of labels L and cause the uppermost label to adhere to the can. Continued forward movement of the can serves to wrap the uppermost label around the outer cylindrical surface thereof.

The construction and operation of the belt assembly E, the glue applicator mechanism F, and the label feed mechanism G are fully described in the above-mentioned Patent No. 2,868,403.

In order to assure proper contact between the cans C and the stack of labels L, the stack of labels L is elevated as the labels thereof are removed by advancing cans. Toward this end, an opening 18 is provided in the track 11 adjacent the leading edge of the stack of labels L and a depressible bar 211 (FIG. 1) is disposed in this opening. Suitable springs 26 and 27 bias the bar 20 to its uppermost position, which coincides with the upper surface ofi the track 11. When the height of the uppermost label of the stack of labels L is above the tracks 10 and 11, the end edge of the can will not contact the bar 20, since the stack of labels L will lift the can above the track 11. However, as the height of the stack of labels L is lowered, its level will reach a point such that a can C passing over the leading edge of the uppermost label will contact the bar 20 and cause it to be depressed. The depression of the bar 21 causes a rod 21 (FIG. 1), which is secured thereto, to move downwardly into engagement with contacts 22; of an actuating switch 23. The switch 23, when actuated, completes a circuit to operate a mechanism (not shown) that lifts a rack or plunger 24 to elevate the liftable platform 19. Each time the switch 23 is actuated the platform 19 moves upwardly a distance suiiicient to raise the uppermost label of the stack of labels L above the level of the tracks 111 and 11. With this arrangement, the stack of labels L is automatically maintained at the proper height.

Intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the stack of labels L, the tracks 10 and 11 are inclined upwardly to raise the cans C above the rear portion of the stack of labels L so as to permit the cans C to pass over an adhesive applicator 31 of a lap end adhesive applicating mechanism H. The adhesive applicator 31 rests on the rear edge of the uppermost label of the stack of labels L and applies a transverse patch or band of adhesive to the trailing edge of each uppermost label. The band of adhesive formed by the adhesive applicator 31 serves to connect the leading and trailing edges of the labels, the labels being of a length such that upon being wrapped around the cans their leading and trailing edges will overlap sufi'iciently to form a glued seam. In addition to applying glue to the trailing edge of the labels, the adhesive applicator 31 acts to hold each label in taut condition as it is being wrapped about the can. The label will be pulled from beneath the adhesive applicator 31 as the forward movement of the can continues, thereby permitting the adhesive applicator 31 to contact and apply adhesive to the next adjacent label.

According to the present invention, the adhesive appiicator 31 (FIGS. 37) comprises a body 32 with an internal cylindrical cavity 32a extending therethrough. The wall of the cavity 32a forms tapered end portions 33 and 34 (FIG. 6). Mounted in the tapered end portions 33 and 34 are fittings 35 and 36, respectively. The fitting 35 is connected to a tube 37 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which communicates with a reservoir 40 having a supply of adhesive therein. A pump 41 (FIG. 1) continuously circulates adhesive through the adhesive applicator 31 by drawing adhesive from the reservoir 41? and by pumping it through the tube 37. Adhesive is returned from the adhesive applicator 31 to the reservoir 40 through a tube 42, which is connected to the fitting 36.

The body 32 of the adhesive applicator 31 is provided with a fiat undersurface 45 that contacts the uppermost label of the stack of labels L (FIG. 1). Formed in the undersurface 45 is a recess 46 (FIGS. 5 and 6). Adhesive is fed to the recess 46 by a series of spaced apart openings 47, which openings are formed in the Wall of the cavity 32a and communicate with the cavity 32a and the recess 46. The length of the recess 46 is substantially equal to the width of a label in the stack of labels L so that upon being filled with adhesive, the recess 46 will apply a uniform band of adhesive along the rear edge of the label.

Formed in the undersurface adjacent to and outwardly of opposite end edges of the recess 46 are transverse grooves St) and 51. Since the length of the recess 46 is substantially equal to the width of a label, the grooves 50 and 51 are disposed just beyond opposite edges of the label. In this manner, the grooves 56 and 51 receive excess adhesive, which might flow beyond the edges of the label, and thereby reduce the tendency for successive labels to stick together.

Should the flow of cans through the labeling machine A be interrupted for any reason, the adhesive applicator 31 is automatically raised from contact with the stack of labels L. For this purpose, the adhesive applicator 31 has brackets 52 and 53 (FIG. 6) depending from the lower surface thereof. The brackets 52 and 53 are disposed at opposite ends of the body 32 and are a sufficient distance apart so as not to contact the labels L. Attached to the brackets 52 and 53 by suitable means, such as screws, are arms 54 and 55 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which are mounted for rotation on a crossbar 56 by suitable hubs 57 and 58. The crossbar 56 is journalled on the machine frame for rotation. Curved fingers 60 and 61 (FIG. 2) are fixed to the crossbar 56 for contact with the undersurface of the arms 54 and 55, respectively. A bar 62 interconnects the arms 54 and 55, and a spring 63 (FIG. 1) is secured to the bar 62 for urging the arms 54 and 55 downwardly, thereby urging the adhesive applicator 31 into engagement with the stack of labels L.

A rocker arm 65 (FIG. 1) is connected to one end of the crossbar 56. Pivoting movement of the rocker arm 65 imparts a rotary movement to the crossbar 56. By rotating the crossbar in the clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1), the fingers 60 and 61 (FIG. 2) engage the arms 54 and 55 and pivot the arms 54 and 55 in a clockwise direction to lift the applicator 31 upwardly away from the stack of labels L against the action of the spring 63.

A pair of resilient fingers and 71 (FIG. 4) in the form of curved wire springs are adjustably mounted on one side of the body 32 of the applicator 31 by suitable clamp means 72 and 73, respectively. The clamp means 72 and 73 include sleeves 74 and 75, respectively, and set screws 76 and 77, respectively. The yieldable fingers 70 and 71 are arranged to project below the undersurface 45 of the body 32 for contacting the uppermost label of the stack of labels L. When the rocker arm 65, under the urgency of a spring 73 (FIG. 1), rotates the cross bar 56 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1), the spring 63 urges the adhesive applicator 31 toward the stack of labels L until its undersurface 45 is in engagement with the uppermost label of the stack of labels L. As this occurs, the resilient fingers 70 and '71 yield to permit the engagement between the undersurface 45 and the uppermost label. When the rocker arm 65 rotates the crossbar 56 in a clockwise direction and the fingers 60 and 61 engage the arms 54 and 55 to lift the applicator 31 upwardly away from the uppermost label of the stack of labels L, the tensioned resilient fingers 70 and 71 are released to project below the undersurface 45 for pushing the uppermost label away from the applicator 31 as the applicator 31 is elevated to clear the stack of labels L. Hence, the uppermost label is prevented from adhering to the applicator 31 as the applicator 31 is elevated away from the stack of labels L.

Movement of the rocker arm 65 to rotate the crossbar 56 in a clockwise direction is controlled by a plunger 66 (FIG. 1) which passes through a control cylinder 67 and is connected at its free end to the piston rod 68 of an air cylinder 69 having a piston 72'. During the normal operation of the machine, the applicator 31 is maintained in contact with the stack of labels by the spring 63. However, should the normal flow of cans be interrupted, then compressed air will flow into the air cylinder 69 by way of a conduit 74' to move the piston rod 63 and the plunger 66 against the tension of the spring '73. This will cause the rocker arm 65 to move in a clockwise direction (FIG. 1), thereby raising the curved fingers 6t) and 61 and causing the applicator 31 to be lifted from the stack of labels.

The supply of compressed air fed to the air cylinder 69 through the conduit 74 is controlled by valve means 75' (FIG. 1) which, in turn, is responsive to the passage of the cans through the machine. The valve means 75' is described in detail in the aforementioned patent and includes two valves, not shown. The valves are adapted to be alternately opened by means of stems and 21, respectively, which are alternately actuated by a pivot plate 82.

Movement of the pivot plate 82 is controlled by an arm 83 which is engaged between opposed springs 84 and S5 surrounding a rod 86, the springs being disposed between stops 87 and 83. A spring 89 urges the rod 86 to the uppermost position, in which position one of the valves of the valve means 75 is open to supply air under pressure to the air cylinder 69.

The rod 86 is, however, normally held in its lowermost position against the compression of spring 89 by means of an arm 96 connected at one end to the rod 86 and carrying on its opposite end a roller 91, the arm 96 being pivoted intermediate its ends to a brace 92. The roller '91 is adapted to contact the traveling belt of the belt assembly E, and the arrangement is such that the cans, as they move through the machine, maintain the lower flight of the belt in sufiiciently taut condition to support the roller 91 and the adjacent end of the arm in a raised position, thereby lowering the opposite end of the arm and the rod 86.

Referring now to the control cylinder 67 (FIG. 1), it will be noted that the tube 37 is connected to one end of the cylinder 67 in such a manner that the piston 95 will effectively close the tube when moved against the urgency of the spring 73'. Thus, at such times as the plunger 66 acts to move the rocker arm 65 to lift the adhesive applicator 31 from the stack of labels, the control cylinder 67 will shut off the flow of adhesive to the applicator 31.

In the operation of the can labeling machine A, cylindrical cans C enter the can labeling machine A in succession with their axes disposed transversely to their direction of travel and advance along the tracks 10 and 11. The cans C are evenly spaced in their forward movement in the labeling machine A by the can spacing device D. After the cans C pass the spacing device D, they are contacted by the belt assembly E which moves the cans forwardly along the tracks 10 and 11. As the cans are advanced along the tracks 10 and 11, they pass over the glue applicator F. The glue wheels 15 of the glue applicator F apply a plurality of spaced apart spots S of glue to the outer cylindrical surfaces of the cans C passing thereover.

Subsequent to the application of the glue spots S on the outer cylindrical surfaces of the successively advancing cans, the cans C pass over the label feeding mechanism G. The platform 19 supports the stack of labels L between the tracks 11) and 11 with the uppermost label of the stack above the tracks 10 and 11 and in a position to be contacted by a can C passing over it. The glue spots S on a can C contact the uppermost label of the stack of labels L and cause the uppermost label to adhere to the can. Continued further movement of the can serves to wrap the uppermost label around the outer cylindrical surface thereof.

Intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the stack of labels L, the tracks and 11 are inclined upwardly so as to raise the successively advancing cans C above the rear portion of the stack of labels L to cause the cans to pass over the adhesive applicator 3 1 of the lap end glue applicator H. The adhesive applicator 31 rests on the rear edge of the uppermost label of the stack of labels L with the flat undersurface 45 thereof in contact with the uppermost label along the rear edge thereof. Adhesive is circulated from the reservoir 40 through the adhesive applicator 31 by means of the pump 41 and the tube 37. The circulated adhesive is fed to the recess 46 formed in the undersurface 45 by means of the openings 47. The length of the recess 46 is substantially equal to the width of the label in the stack L so that upon being filled with adhesive, the recess 46 applies a transverse band of adhesive to each uppermost label along the rear edge thereof. Excessive adhesive which might flow beyond the edges of the label is received by the transverse grooves '51] and 51 to reduce the tendency for successive labels to stick together. The band of adhesive formed by the applicator 31 serves to connect the leading and trailing edges of the labels, the labels being of such length that upon being wrapped around the cans their leading and trailing edges will overlap sufliciently to form a glue seam connection between the rear and front edges of respective labels.

Cans C moving along the tracks 10 and 11 in the normal operation of the labeling machine A will maintain the roller 91 in its elevated position and maintain the valve means 75' in the vent position. The rocker arm 65 is urged in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1) by the spring 73', thereby maintaining the fingers '60 and 61 out of contact with the arms 54 and 55, which are attached to the adhesive applicator 31 by means of brackets 52 and 53, respectively. Thus, the adhesive applicator 31 is held in contact with the labels of the stack L by the spring 63 and the resilient fingers 70 and 71 have yielded to a position above the undersurface 45.

Should the normal flow of successive cans be interrupted, the lower run of the belt assembly E will sag sufiiciently to permit the roller 91 to move downwardly under the action of the spring 89. The spring 89 also acts to urge the rod 86 upwardly, thereby moving the plate 82 to its alternate position. This movement causes air under pressure to flow into the cylinder 69 so as to drive the piston 66 to the right (as viewed in FIG. 1), thereby moving the rocker arm 65 in a clockwise direction against the tension of the spring 73. Movement of the rocker arm 65 rotates the crossbar 56 to raise the fingers 60 and 61, thereby lifting the arms 54 and 55. The lifting of the arms 54 and 55 raises the adhesive applicator 31 away from the stack of labels L. As the adhesive applicator 31 is lifted away from the stack of labels L, the tensioned yieldable fingers 70 and 71 project below the undersurface 45 of the applicator 31 to push the uppermost label away from the applicator 31. Hence, the uppermost label is prevented from adhering to the applicator 31 as the applicator 31 is elevated away from the stack of labels L.

Air pressure will be applied so long as the flow of cans is interrupted, but once the normal flow is resumed, the lower run of the belt assembly B will be tightened. Thereupon, the roller 91 is lifted and the rod 86 moves downwardly venting the cylinder 69 through the valve means 75'.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An applicator for applying adhesive along an edge of a label in a labeling machine, said applicator comprising a body with an internal adhesive supply cavity, said body including a surface for contacting the label along an edge thereof, means defining a recess in said surface, means in said body providing communication between said cavity and said recess for filling said recess with adhesive from said cavity, whereby a band of adhesive is applied along the edge of the label when said surface is in contact with the label, and means formed in said body adjacent said recess for receiving excess adhesive flowing beyond the label.

2. An applicator for applying adhesive along an edge of a label in a labeling machine, said applicator comprising a body with an internal adhesive supply cavity, said body including an undersurface for contacting the label along an edge thereof, means forming a recess in said undersurface, said recess being of a length substantially equal to the length of said edge of the label, means in said body providing communication between said cavity and said recess for filling said recess with adhesive from said cavity whereby a band of adhesive is applied along the edge of the label when said undersurface is disposed in contact with a label, and means defining a groove in said body adjacent to and outwardly from an end edge of said recess for receiving excess adhesive flowing beyond the label.

3. An applicator for applying adhesive along an edge of alabel in a labeling machine, said applicator comprising a body with an internal adhesive supply cavity, said body including a flat undersurface for contacting the label along an edge thereof, means forming a recess in said undersurface, said recess being of a length substantially equal to the length of said edge of the label, means formed in said body communicating with said cavity and said recess for filling said recess with adhesive from said cavity, whereby a band of adhesive is applied along the edge of the label when said undersurface is in contact with said label, and means defining grooves in said undersurface adjacent to and outwardly from opposite end edges of said recess for receiving excess adhesive flowing beyond the label.

4. An applicator for applying adhesive along an edge of a label in a labeling machine, said applicator comprising a body with an internal cavity for storing liquid adhesive, said body including a flat undersurface for contacting the label along an edge thereof, means forming a recess in said undersurface, said recess being of a length substantially equal to the length of said edge of the label, means formed in said body communicating said cavity with said recess for filling said recess with adhesive from said cavity, whereby a band of adhesive is applied along the edge of the label when said undersurface is disposed in contact with a label, and means in said body defining transverse grooves adjacent to and outwardly from opposite end edges of said recess for receiving excess adhesive flowing beyond the label.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 449,124 Knight Mar. 31, 1891 601,594 Simpson Mar. 29, 1898 1,167,633 Dennis Jan. 11, 1916 1,217,989 Paridon et al Mar. 6, 1917 1,265, 127 Sleeper May 7, 1918 1,399,051 Elder et al Dec. 6, 1921 1,661,210 Wood Mar. 6, 1928 11,985,293 Kimball Dec. 25, 1934 2,469,030 Brown May 3, 1949 2,730,991 Baughan Jan. 17, 1956 2,806,443 Horn et al. Sept. 17, 1957 

